Yu Xiaogang shuddered, opened his eyes, and met his father's deep gaze.
Yu Yuanzhen looked at him, his eyes showing no blame, only a complex understanding.
Let bygones be bygones.
Yu Yuanzhen transmitted his voice telepathically, the voice resounding directly in his mind, "Although you have left the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, you are still my son."
"Head up, chest out, don't let outsiders look down on you."
Yu Xiaogang's throat bobbed, and he nodded with difficulty.
He took a deep breath, forced himself to lift his head, and looked straight ahead, no longer looking away.
But his gaze still involuntarily drifted towards that purple-gold figure.
Bibi Dong seemed unaware of his gaze.
She stood there quietly, gazing towards the academy gate, her profile outlined beautifully in the morning light.
Sunlight shone on her purple-gold Pope robes, reflecting a dazzling light that made her appear like a deity descended to earth—noble, distant, and untouchable.
Yu Xiaogang felt a sharp pain in his chest, almost suffocating.
He clenched his fist tightly, not wanting to lose his composure.
I can't lose my composure here, in front of so many people, in front of her.
He is Yu Xiaogang, Tang San's teacher, and the son of the patriarch of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
He... couldn't let her see him make a fool of himself.
Just then, a slight commotion came from inside the Shrek Academy.
Everyone looked up and saw a group of people walking quickly out of the academy gate.
Leading the group were the remaining four members of the Shrek Seven Devils — Tang San, Ning Rongrong, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun.
As for Xiao Wu?
She wasn't feeling well, so Tang San told her to rest and didn't let her come out.
At this moment, Ning Rongrong was almost at the very front of the group.
She and her companions had originally been solemnly welcoming their "distinguished guest," but when her gaze fell upon that familiar, refined figure, and the silent, gray-robed old man beside him, all her composure and prepared etiquette vanished instantly.
"Dad! Grandpa Bone!"
The girl's clear voice carried undisguised surprise, and a radiant smile bloomed on her face.
Lifting her skirt, like a cheerful lark, she flew straight through the slightly somber atmosphere towards Ning Fengzhi.
The composure in Ning Fengzhi's eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a warm smile. He opened his arms and gently caught his daughter as she ran towards him, patting her back softly as he said tenderly:
"Slow down, Rongrong. You're so big now, why are you still so clumsy?"
Even so, the doting tone in his voice was almost overflowing.
On Gu Rong's stiff face, the lines softened strangely, and a barely perceptible warmth flashed in his gray eyes.
He gave a soft "hmm," and his gaze swept over Ning Rongrong from head to toe. Only after confirming that she was alright did his cold and unapproachable aura subtly soften.
I miss you all so much!
Ning Rongrong lifted her head from her father's arms, her eyes sparkling. Then, as if remembering the occasion, a blush rose to her face.
Turning around, she introduced herself in a clear voice to her somewhat surprised, yet quickly understanding and kind, companions:
"Everyone, Third Brother, Fatty, Little Ao, and... uh, everyone," she glanced quickly at the purple-gold figure standing quietly in the distance, skipping the direct greeting to that side, and focused on introducing her own side.
"This is my father, Ning Fengzhi, the sect leader of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
This is my grandfather, Gu Rong, whose title is 'Bone'.
Her tone was full of pride, and she stood ramrod straight.
Tang San, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun quickly bowed, their expressions respectful.
Although they already knew from Ning Rongrong that she came from an extraordinary background, seeing this renowned leader of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, who was famous throughout the continent, and a living Titled Douluo in person gave them a completely different feeling.
Oscar, in particular, lingered on Ning Fengzhi for a moment longer, his feelings somewhat complicated, but he quickly composed himself.
Ning Fengzhi smiled and nodded in return, his demeanor dignified. "You're too kind. My daughter has been well taken care of by you young students at your esteemed academy."
His gaze swept over Tang San and the others, lingering particularly on Tang San for a moment before he nodded, his eyes filled with just the right amount of appreciation.
Gu Rong simply nodded slightly, her gaze mainly fixed on Ning Rongrong, as if the others around her were not very important.
After the introductions were finished, Ning Rongrong and Ning Fengzhi whispered to each other.
A brief silence fell over the scene once again.
Oscar and Ma Hongjun both looked nervous, especially Ma Hongjun, whose forehead was covered in sweat, whether from the heat or fear, it was hard to tell.
"Fatty, wipe your sweat."
Oscar handed him a sausage. "Replenish your energy and calm your nerves."
"Get lost," Ma Hongjun laughed and cursed, taking the sausage and taking a bite, but his eyes were fixed on the sky. "How do you think Zhu Zhuqing and the others will come back? They won't fall from the sky, will they?"
Oscar looked up at the sky. "Who knows? That Heavenly Emperor has extraordinary abilities; maybe he can just open a door and..."
Before the words were even finished, a sudden change occurred.
The midday sun suddenly became blinding. No, it wasn't that the sunlight became stronger, but rather that something in the sky seemed to be gathering light.
Everyone looked up.
Above Shrek Academy, the clouds began to swirl, forming a giant vortex.
At the center of the vortex, a point of golden light gradually lit up, initially as small as a bean, but in an instant it expanded into a dazzling golden sun.
No, it's not the sun.
Within the golden light, two slender figures could be vaguely seen, slowly descending from the sky.
They walked on air, and with each step they took, a golden ripple spread out beneath their feet, as if they were walking on invisible steps.
The golden light enveloped them, making it difficult to see their faces, but they could only be vaguely distinguished as two women with graceful figures and extraordinary temperaments.
As they slowly descended, an indescribable aura spread out.
That wasn't a fluctuation of Soul Power, but a higher-level, more mysterious power.
It is as solid as a mountain, and as vast as the starry sky.
Under the influence of this aura, all the Soul Master on the plaza, regardless of their cultivation level, felt their Soul Power stagnate slightly and become sluggish.
The Titled Douluo- level powerhouses changed slightly.
A flash of sword light appeared in Chen Xin's eyes, and the sword energy around his body automatically protected him, keeping the invisible oppressive feeling three feet away.
Gu Rong let out a muffled groan, and the ground beneath his feet cracked silently. Yu Yuanzhen stood on end, and faint lightning flickered around his body.
Even Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo quietly gathered their Soul Power to resist that oppressive force.
Only Bibi Dong remained calm, her purple eyes fixed on the two figures in the air.
Finally, the golden light dissipated, and the two figures floated lightly to the center of the square, landing exactly ten feet in front of Bibi Dong's carriage.
When the person who had just appeared was seen, the entire room fell into a deathly silence.
Those were two girls...
It was Zhu Zhuqing and Zhu Zhuyun.